Adjustable fur stretcher



A LAWRENCE jam. 3, 1939.

ADJUSTABLE FUR STRETCHER Filed Dec. 28, 1936 2 SheetsSheet l In van for15 72 amzz/Zawrmm,

A iiorneys Jan, 3, 1939. LAWRENCE 2,142,755 ADJUSTABLE FUR STRETCHERFiled Dec. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFIQE 7 Claims.

My invention relates generally to means for stretching fur skins and thelike, and particularly to a fur stretcher adapted to be made indifferent sizes, and an important object of my invention is to providedevices of this class which are adjustable to accommodate differentintermediate sizes of furs, within the range, for which the stretcher isconstructed.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a fur stretcherof the character indicated which is efficient and inexpensive, and whichdoes not require trained skill for its application and operation.

Other important objects of my invention will be apparent from a readingof the following description taken in connection with the drawings,wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodimentof my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of the embodiment of myinvention.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view of the upper part of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the lower part ofthe embodiment and looking downwardly.

Figure 4 is a view generally similar to Figure l of the drawings ofanother embodiment of my invention.

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of the upper part of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the lower part ofFigure 4 and looking downwardly.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the lowerpart of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals 5 and i,-in Figures 1,2 and 3, refer respectively to the two longitudinal members whichcompose the body of the stretcher at the upper end of each of which hasa cut away portion 7, 8, respectively, defining the respective shoulders9 and H]. Pivoted as indicated by the numerals H and E2 to the resultantreduced portions are the curved and tapered fingers is, M which havesquared lower ends i5, 16 which are normally spaced from thecorresponding .shoulders 9, Hi, which shoulders act as stops when thefingers are in extreme pivoted positions. The fingers I3, l4 normallylean in toward each other as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The upper ends of the longitudinal members 5 and 5 are spaced andconnected by means of the tensioning spring which is generallydesignated ll and which has the general inverted V- shape'shown in Fig.l, the apex of which includes the coil or convolution l8 which suppliesthe spring tension. The opposite arms I9, 20 have ends embedded andanchored in the laterally inward edges of the longitudinal members asshown.

The lower end of the longitudinal member 5 has fastened thereto by meansof the screw or the like 25, one end of the bottom bar 22, which bar isprovided in its opposite end with a longitudinal slot 23 which receivesthe tightening bolt 24 which is anchored as indicated by the numeral 25in the lower end of the longitudinal member 6 and extends through theslot 23 beyond which it is provided with the washer 26 at the thumb nut27.

An intermediate point of the bottom bar 20 has fastened thereto asindicated by the numeral 28 the lower end of a coiled spring 29 whoseupper end has a hook or eye 30 which is engageable with one end of thefur skin 3| for stretching the fur in one direction.

In operating the device of the invention the fur skin is made into theusual envelope and is then placed on the device of the invention withthe longitudinal members 5 and 6 drawn toward each other until the pelthas been drawn down along these members to the proper length and hookedon the stretcher spring 29, whereupon the side portions of the pelt arenailed or tacked to the longitudinal members 5 and 6. When this has beenaccomplished, the sections 5 and 6 are forced away from each other untila sufficient stretch of the pelt has been achieved, whereat the thumbscrew 2'! is turned up to clamp the sections in their new positions.

The spring ll pushes the upper ends of the sections 5 and 6 and theirfingers or heads l3, it sufliciently away from each other into a spreadrelationship so that the skin or pelt is adequately stretched throughoutits length. It is obvious that the spring ll may be arranged incooperation with the bottom bar 22 and its clamping arrangement so thatskins of different sizes within the range of the stretcher described maybe accommodated.

Referring specifically to the embodiment of the invention which is shownin Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be observed that thiscomprises a frame composed of side longitudinal members 5 and 5 havingat their upper ends heads l3 and M which are pivoted like the heads l3and M on pivots H and I2.

Intermediate portions of the longitudinal side members are cut in asindicated by the numerals 32 and 33 to define shoulders 34 and 35, thecut out portions and the shoulders forming seats for the generallyL-shaped brackets 36 and 31 which have ears attached to the oppositesides of these longitudinal members and bifurcated portions throughwhich pivots 38 and 39 pass. On these pivots are pivoted the outer endsof links 40, 4| which are pivotally connected together at their innerends by the pivot 42 which pivots the upper end of a rod 43 to thelinks.

The rod 43 has an enlarged rectangular portion 44 whose lower endportion 45 is reduced and provided in one side with vertically spacednotches 41 with which engages a spring detent 46 which is fastened asindicated by the numeral 48 to the bottom of one side of the bottomadjusting bar 22' which corresponds to the bottom adjusting bar 22 inthe first described embodiment of the invention. The adjusting bar 22has therein a longitudinal slot 49 in which the reduced portion 45 ofthe bar 44 slides both vertically and longitudinally relative to the bar22, and this bar is further provided with a slot 23 in which works thebolt 24' which has thereon the wing nut 2'! urging the washer 26 intolocking engagement with the bar 22'. An opposite end portion of the bar22 is secured by fastening means 2| to the longitudinal member 5'.

To an intermediate part of the bar 22 is fastened a stretching spring 29similar to the spring 29 in the first described embodiment and which isprovided with a hook or eye 3i! for engaging the skin 3|.

The first described embodiment of the invention is more suited for usefor stretching muskrat, oppossum and the like skins, while the seconddescribed embodiment is more suited to the stretching of mink, marten,fox, and the like having a fixed stretched adjustment. In the case ofthe embodiment shown in Figure 4 the shoulder spreading mechanismcomprises the links 40 and 4|, whereas in the first described embodimentthe shoulder spreading arrangement is the spring 11.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members arranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivoted onone end of each side member on an axis disposed at right angles thereto,a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by the respective tip tolimit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward the opposed tip, andspacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends of said side members.

2. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members arranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivoted onone end of each side member on an axis disposed at right angles thereto,a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by the respective tip tolimit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward the opposed tip, andspacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends of said side members,expanding means between and attached to the first mentioned ends of theside members.

3. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members ar ranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivotedon one end of each side member on an axis disposed at right anglesthereto, a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by therespective tip to limit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward theopposed tip, and spacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends ofsaid side members, expanding means between and attached to the firstmentioned ends of the side members, said expanding means comprising apair of pivotally connected links having their outer ends pivoted to thesaid first mentioned ends of the side members, and operating means forspreading and contracting said links.

4. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members arranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivoted ononeend of each side member on an axis disposed at right angles thereto,a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by the respective tip tolimit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward the opposed tip, andspacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends of said side members,expanding means between and attached to the first mentioned ends of theside members, said expanding means comprising an expanding spring havingopposed ends fastened to and between the first mentioned ends of theside members.

5. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members ar ranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivotedon one end of each side member on an axis disposed at right anglesthereto, a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by therespective tip to limit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward theopposed tip, and spacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends ofsaid side members, expanding means between and attached. to the firstmentioned ends of the side members, said expanding means comprising apair of pivotally connected links having their outer ends pivoted to thesaid first mentioned ends of the side members, and operating means forspreading and contracting said links, said operating means comprising alongitudinally movable rod pivotally connected to said linkssubstantially on the axis of said pivot, said spacing means being formedwith an opening slidably receiving said rod.

6. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members arranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivoted onone end of each side member on an axis disposed at right angles thereto,a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by the respective tip tolimit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward the opposed tip, andspacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends of said side members,expanding means between and attached tothe first mentioned ends of theside members, said expanding means comprising a pair of pivotallyconnected links having their outer ends pivoted to the said firstmentioned ends the side members, and operating means for spreading andcontracting said links, said operating means comprising a longitudinallymovable rod pivotally connected to said links substantially on the axisof said pivot, said spacing means being formed with an opening slidablyreceiving said rod, said spacing means being provided with a springdetent for releasably engaging depressions formed in said rod to holdsaid rod in an adjusted position.

7. A fur skin stretcher comprising a pair of elongated substantiallyrigid side members arranged in substantial parallelism, a tip pivoted onone end of each side member on an axis disposed at right angles thereto,a stop adjacent the pivot adapted to be engaged by the respective tip tolimit laterally inward leaning of the tip toward the opposed tip, andspacing means adjustably spacing the opposite ends of said side members,and a stretching spring attached to said spacing means between said sidemembers, said stretching spring having an element engageable with theadjacent end of the skin for stretching the skin toward said spacingmeans.

ANDREW LAWRENCE.

